2009 Bluebird Coach conversion/Build - Page 3

Bullwhacker007 · 01-07-2012, 03:07 AM

Nice.
I was a diesel mechanic for a number of years; one thing I noticed is that engine is going to be a PITA to work on.

morefire · 01-07-2012, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirtygoat

Great build...

Love the chairs, where did you find them???

Grabbed them off ebay. They came from a Toyota I believe, but were brand new

morefire · 01-08-2012, 08:36 AM

This is a bad picture........ but it shows my new "light weight" muffler just prior to being installed

And this is the spot where my new "muffler" will go

morefire · 01-08-2012, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iceni John

Does your BB have full-length frame rails, like AAREs, or is it integral / semi-integral construction like MCIs? The last photo you posted shows what look like frame rails extending all the way to the back, but are they only for the engine cradle or do they connect forward?

John

Check out this Video...... it shows the Chassis being built

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk1CfDQh ... plpp_video

morefire · 01-08-2012, 03:24 PM

The Express Coach and the Wanderlodge are on the same Chassis, and the rest of the coach is almost exactly the same as well, but a few things layed out differently since the Wanderlodge has slides and the Express coach didnt.etc..... but otherwise, they are the same. All the upper steel on the Express is Stainless Steel, but the Wanderlodge also has Stainless steel on the lower portion, in the bay area

The Express Coach got the CAT engines, and the Wanderlodge got the Big 600hp Cummins because of the weight, And since we had all the parts from one of the incomplete wanderlodges that was scrapped, we were able to get all the parts to my my Cummins an OEM type fit, into my Express chassis. All the pipeing, mounts, brackets, wiring etc...

thommassey · 01-26-2012, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lornaschinske

I
.... I have all the plans & parts lists to build an Hydronic heater (info from Aqua-hot) for about 30% of the selling price (I priced it ALL out when I first got the info)....

That sounds great! Would you like to share??

morefire · 02-04-2012, 03:49 PM

The Cummins is up and running in the coach now, a few small things and it will be out for a test drive.....

morefire · 02-12-2012, 07:17 PM

And here it is......... Cummins engine swap is complete

Cant't wait to drive it!!

bansil · 02-13-2012, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morefire

And here it is......... Cummins engine swap is complete

Cant't wait to drive it!!

How about a picture of you doing a burn out

morefire · 02-18-2012, 05:12 AM

Next up is mounting 4 captians chairs that I bought. It will be Driver, passenger, and 2 across from a sofa that will be on swivel bases, and have a small removable table in the middle. You can get an idea from my awesome drawing below

itsme1738 · 02-18-2012, 02:34 PM

just WOW is all i can say!!!!!....well maybe not,beautiful,nice work,jelous,

Lostranger · 02-20-2012, 08:23 AM

This is my first day on this forum. I thought it was about low dollar conversions of school buses. Then I clicked on this thread. I'm in shock.

I'm happy for you, man. This is a gorgeous and well executed project, but it bears about as much relevance to the step van we're converting so we'll have some place to live as the last space shuttle flight has to my son's radio control airplane hobby. It's like reading a story from a galaxy far, far away, but it is a nice story. Shows what can be accomplished when an intelligent and dedicated converter begins with a great platform and a wonderful plan. And a wheelbarrow full of money.

I need to log off now. I'll come back to this site another time. I'm sure the conversions I'm interested in are here. Somewhere. Meanwhile, best to all from our little corner of the world.

Jim in North Carolina

dirtygoat · 02-21-2012, 08:33 PM

Good job on the engine swap...

Man, I really want those seats... I plan on doing the exact same thing, two in the front and two in the back on one side... Can't wait to see them installed...

Stretch · 02-24-2012, 01:05 PM

Pretty neat. Picking up a new, incomplete bus and finishing it up. And 675hp should do everything you could possibly throw at it. I imagine you did not pay new price for the bus, wondering if in the end, you could sell it and still be money ahead.

Or, if your like me, you build it how you want, and never plan to sell.

bus-bro · 02-24-2012, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stretch

...wondering if in the end, you could sell it and still be money ahead.

That's one question that should never be asked.

morefire · 02-24-2012, 04:32 PM

I have no idea what it will be worth in the end.
I never really looked at it as an investment, It's more like a hobby and project, and I just thought, let me build it exactly how I would want to order it If I had the money to order a custom new one. I don't have unlimited funds for this, and thats why I have been doing it in stages, as I go, and it's taking some time.

This bus completed as an "Express coach" would have been around $400,000. And as a "Wanderlodge motorhome" would have stated at $775,000+
I am building it for a fraction of what it would cost, even as an express coach, but it's still costing me some serious money, no doubt.

I don't plan on selling it, unless one day I have to for financial reasons.

morefire · 03-05-2012, 06:34 PM

Seat bases coming together....
There will be 4 of these on swivel bases

morefire · 03-12-2012, 04:20 PM

Some pictures of my "Muffler"

Straight pipe

Stuff · 03-12-2012, 05:23 PM

sure come along way!

opus · 03-12-2012, 06:03 PM

Do you need my address so you can deliver it?

You may also like: